Understanding Roma Culture
Whilst Roma share many socio-cultural characteristics, history, traditions, cultural heritage, language base and socio-cultural characteristics, the Roma community are not a homogenous group and it is important not to over generalise or stereotype. The lived culture, traditions, life experience, needs and challenges for one Roma may not be so for another.
Nomadism
Historically nomadism was prohibited and many Roma were forced to settle. Nowadays most Roma are not nomadic, or may be nomadic for short periods at key times during the year. Many have settled in both rural and urban areas. Those who lead a nomadic lifestyle do so with a purpose, that is to practice their trades and skills. This has traditionally been as craftsmen and craftswomen, entertainers, musicians, dancers and the owners or operators of carnivals.
Extended family
The family and extended are central to Roma culture, and Roma often travel with their extended family group and open their homes to their extended families. It is quite usual for 3 or 4 generations of the same family to live together.
Young families
Roma tend to marry and have children at a relatively young age, often having 6 or more children per family. The family is strengthened and enlarged by the number of children born. There is a Romani proverb “Nane chave, nane bacht” which means – “If there are no children, it is bad luck”. Children and the elderly are much valued and held in an esteemed position within the community. Charity and sharing are central to Roma culture.
Women play a very important role within the family by running the household and taking care of the children, a valued role in the Roma community. Some Roma women wear the traditional dress of long colourful skirts and wear their hair braided and if a woman is married she may keep her head covered by a head scarf. However, not all Roma women wear traditional dress
Gender Equality
The modern movement towards women’s equality has not impacted on Roma women because they have not had the same access to education and resources as women generally. Roma women and their needs were not included in the mainstream Women’s rights movement and they face a ‘double discrimination’. It has only been since the mid 1990’s that the Roma Women’s rights movement has begun to develop with organisations like European Roma Rights Centre, International Romani Women’s Network and Romani Crisis putting Roma Women’s rights on the agenda. Nowadays many Roma women are engaging in education and employment at a much greater level, but there is still are huge amount to be done in the area of equality for Women.
Roma and Music:
Music, dance and theatre have traditionally been central to Roma identity and culture. The Roma have made considerable contributions to world music across many different genres including jazz, Middle Eastern music, flamenco music and dance, Jewish klezmer music and modern ‘gypsy’. Their unique Roma musical style has been brought to the Irish stage with performances by Damien and Brothers, The Gypsy Kings, Mahala Rai Banda and Fanfare Ciocarlia. In fact, many celebrated entertainers such as Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley, Michael Caine, Rita Hayworth, Bob Hoskins and Lily Allen have all acknowledged their Romani ancestry.
